This is why here at Dive Ninja Expeditions we feel it is of the utmost priority to help further the research of these incredible animals through citizen science expeditions and proper eco tourism. A situation that calls for more research to be done on these incredible animals and more regulations put in place to protect them. This decimation of their population coupled with having one ofthe lowest fecality rates (chance of reproducing) of all marine life creates a very dangerous situation for the species. Their large surface schooling behaviors and that they tend to stay near the coast makes them regular by-catch victims of commercial fishing, as well as getting caught in gillnets, and by trawlers. What we do know, is that the Mobula Ray’s conservation status has been labeled as Near Threatened on the IUCN red list since 2006. For example, it is unsure how long these elegant creatures live for, and at what age they become mature adults what their gestation period is and their reproductive habits why do they jump or what are their migration patterns are… beckoning the next generation of scientists to begin filling in the gaps and helping us understand them better. But many facts about this species are still unknown, and a lot of information is lacking. ![]() It is estimated that these Munks Devil Rays give birth to only one pup every 3-5 years and that they move through the eastern Pacific according to water temperatures, transiting the waters from Mexico to Peru including the offshore islands of Galapagos, Malpelo, Cocos, and the Revillagigedo Archipelago. ![]() But don’t worry, you dont need to be a champion freediver to see them, they are usually spotted near the surface and schools are rarely more than 5 meters (15 feet) below the surface. Freediving and snorkeling with them on the other hand increases your chances of getting up close to them. Therefore, you won’t usually have great interactions with the Mobulas while scuba diving. Orcas will sometimes create bubble “nets” to gather the rays together to make them easier to hunt. They are usually quite shy and can be very afraid of bubbles, which might be because of their main predator – the mighty Orca. However you might be surprised to learn that an animal with the name ‘devil ray’ has a very peaceful nature and is completely harmless. When viewed from above these modified fins look a bit like horns, which is where the nickname “Devil Ray” comes from. But, unlike their cousins, the lobes of these Mobula rays do not unroll into flat fins. Mobula rays have cephalic fins, which are two frontal lobes that extend from the sides of their mouth and help funnel water and food into their mouth, just like their larger Manta ray cousins. Dive Ninja Expeditions has teamed up with Marta to run mobula ray citizen science expeditions to assist in the search for more nurseries in the area, as well as helping to build more data on new areas through ongoing scouting trips and imaging in hopes of pushing for further protection of the species. It is believed that more of these nursery areas exist around the Baja California Sur peninsula. Recently the identification and description of the first ever discovered nursery area for a Mobula species, was found right here in Baja, near La Paz, Mexico by scientist & mobula expert, Marta Palacios of Pelagios Kakunja. Watching their behavior and comparing it to other species of the genus confirms the speculations of the reason they congregate in such huge numbers – to find mates and give birth. ![]() It is believed that these devil rays come to Baja to find mates and reproduce, and that the abundance of plankton, which is the Mobula’s favorite dish, brings them to this part of the ocean. During this time the schools can number in the tens of thousands of mobula rays and be over a kilometer long. During the springtime, when the currents change and bring large sums of plankton and nutrients to the surface from the depths, the largest gathering of rays occurs.
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